Chintakayala Ravi Telugu movie review

Story: Kona Venkat
Music: Vishal - Sekhar

Background score: Manisharma

Lyrics: Chandrabose

Cinematography: K Ravindra Babu

Editing: Srikara Prasad

Choreography: Raju Sundaram

Banner: Lakshmi Narasinha Productions

Produced by: Nallamalupu Srinivas (Bujji)

Screenplay and directed by: Yogesh

Release date: October 2, 2008

What’s it about!
Seshamamba (Lakshmi) is in belief that his son Chintakayala Ravi (Venkatesh) is working as SWE in USA and she boasts it in her village but actually Ravi is works in a local bar there. His mother arranges a match for him with a rich village belle Lavanya (Mamata Mohandas) who okays the alliance as Ravi is software engineer. Meanwhile, Lavanya asks her New York buddy Sunita (Anushka) to find out the conduct of Chintakayala Ravi. Sunita and Ravi accidentally meet once and she gets bad impression on him for his mischievous acts. She also finds that he is actually bartender and informs her friends that causes rift between Ravi and Lavanya’s families. The rest of the movie is triangle drama between Ravi, Lavanya and Sunita.
Analysis
Like all recent Venkatesh’s films, Chintakayala Ravi has high on entertainment but low on content. Story of the flick is kitchidi of various Hindi movies (mostly Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon and Hum Tum) but the backdrop of USA, Venkatesh’s performance, and comedy makes the film watchable. Adding mother sentiment to the predictable storyline made the movie more interesting, otherwise, it could have been very dull. Kona Venkat’s dialogues also are major asset. Other than that the movie treads on predictable pattern. First half of the movie is smooth and interesting but post the interval the narration is too slow and lengthy too. On the whole, the movie is just an okay.
Performances
Venkatesh gives good performance and shows his panache in comedy and sentiment scenes. After Venky, it is senior Actress Lakshmi whose work is better. Her restrained performance adds strength to the sentiment scenes. Anushka’s performance is okay. Finally, Mamata Mohandass has got good role in Tollywood and also she comes with convincing act. Of the comedy gang, Sunil shines while Ali’s act as Nachami (an extension of his role in Chiruta), other toilet humor and some suggestive double meaning dialogues by Venky are in bad taste. Venu is apt for his brief role. So is Nikita. NTR’s guest appearance in the Songs 'Shava Shava' has no link and logic to the main storyline. Prakash Raj’s narrates the film with his voice over but it also can be done away with.
Of the technical cast, Kona Venkat (dialogues are good), Vishal- Sekhar (two songs – Bagunde..Bagunde and Enduko..Enduko are lilting) and cinematographer Ravindra Babu have come up with better work. Manisharma has just ‘copied’ the tunes from some of Yash Raj movies to provide background score. Chandrabose has penned all the songs and the lyrics in Enduko..Enduko are fantastic. He is giving best lyrics thesedays.
The scene where Venkatesh and Anushka act as husband and wife is just copy of Hum Tum (Rani and Saif do the same act in an apartment in Mumbai), like Saif arranges boys for Rani in Hum Tum, Venky does the same here. And in the climax, when Venky and Anushka perform as lovers in a game is Xerox copy of Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon. Indeed, the basic plot of Chintakayala Ravi is similar to Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon minus Abhishek’s role.
One appreciable aspect of the movie is the scenes shot in USA are rich and gives the movie very bright look. Producer Nallamapulu Bujji should be appreciated for this. Director Yogesh handles the movie okay but he has used all the old tricks for narration, not shown any novelty here.
Bottom-line
Chintakayala Ravi is just an okay. Mix of several Bollywood movies, the movie can be watchable for its comedy (in parts), good music and Venky’s performance.

Rating: 3/5

Kidnap movie review *ing Sanjay Dutt, Imran Khan

Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Imran Khan, Minissha Lamba, Vidya Malvade, Rahul Dev, Reema Lagoo
Director: Sanjay Gadhvi
Producer: Dhilin Mehta (Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd.)Music: Pritam, Sandeep & Sanjeev VyasRating: ***1/2

Kidnap is a high level drama which unveils the story with each opening scene, step by step. It is basically the story of the fight between Imran Khan (an orphan), who wants to take revenge from Sanjay Dutt (an affluent New York-based Indian businessman, who does not see beyond money). Though a kind hearted father and a loving husband, he is too proud and unable to disclose his love to his wife Vidya Malvade. Minissha Lamba is the daughter of Sanjay and Vidya.
Vidya opts for a divorce on the pretext that Sanjay does not care for their well-being and is a shrewd businessman who only loves to count money by every second increase in it. Vidya is a strict mother and she does not like or want her daughter Minissha to continue any kind of relationship with her father. Vidya has been portrayed as a strict but care taking and loving mother who believes in restricting her daughter's movements. Despite her attempt to make her understand the dangers of being out of the house during late hours at night, Minissha refuses to budge and in a fit of rage she goes out one evening.
The film depicts how the family members are torn apart by turbulent misunderstanding. Minissha leaves the house and takes a plunge in the river to cool her anger but to her dismay she is kidnapped by Imran.Imran wants this rich and stubborn businessman Sanjay realise how important the word 'sorry' is in his life that he wanted to tell him at the age of 14 but was not allowed at that point of time because of which his life gets topsy-turvy.Innocent and poor people are always unheard. It is only the verdict of the rich that reigns higher. Sanjay misinterprets the actions of the 14-year-old boy and is adamant in getting him behind the bars – that's the backdrop of the revenge drama.The direction of Sanjay Gadhvi keeps you zapped with head scratching inquisitiveness. Having cast prolific actors in the movie, Gadhvi definitely expected a good job out of them. And one has to confess, the contemporary cinema-goer will positively like their performances. Imran Khan especially who has not disappointed in this new avatar in his very second film.
Sanjay Dutt's macho man entry in his very first scene is not only breathtaking but his soft heartedness towards his daughter and accepting the tasks rendered to him by the kidnapper (Imran) undoubtedly identifies with him in real life. Needless to say that he is brilliant as always. Minissha Lamba fails to ignite any fire despite her skimpily clad attire. Vidya looks too young as Minissha's mother, but her modern dresses are quite refreshing so is her performance.All in all, Kidnap solely survives on the high risks manoeuvres of the kidnapper. The film's commercial value is kept intact. Music score is seemingly mediocre, nothing special there. The dialogues are simple, and the incidents are more like a plethora of tales with ample amount of teachings. Cinematography is superb but the editing left a lot to be desired. Probably the length of the film remains a matter to be debated. Also, the film seems to be dragging a bit in the first half. Nevertheless, it is worth a one-time watch.
Lipika Varma, Sanskriti Media & Entertainment

Drona Movie review Hindi movie Abhisheak and Priyanka

On asked what the audience should expect from Drona, Abhishek said “I want them to expect a lot. I never say this, but I want them (the audience) to expect the world. Goldie proved that my expectations weren’t high enough. So I want them to expect a lot more.” Woah, not bad I thought! Yet, not trusting Abhishek as I read something similar from him about Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, I went in with low expectations.
And yet I was heavily disappointed. Disappointed to see Abhishek being part of such a poorly directed low quality movie. Disappointed for the fact that a huge amount of money was wasted on great special effects in a horribly illogical film!
Gustaki Maaf are Kay Kay’s two most favorite words in the movie. Gustaki Maaf Goldie Behl saab, but seriously what were you thinking? Even a 12 year old school kid could have scripted a better superhero story for his school project! Its hard to believe I just saw a movie as bad as Drona. Try figuring this out..
Drona and his bodyguard Sonia are in the middle of a vast desert and out of nowhere, Sonia is pulled into a huge sea! Sea in a desert? Update: Such a location where the Desert meets the sea does exist! Director Goldie Behl says “We got exactly that place it was “Desert meets the Ocean”. After seeing this Abhishek was stunned to see such a fantastic location.”
Which century or era does this movie belong to? We start off with a modern town with all the high funda cars, cut to the next scene we have a palace in a desert that looks dated, back to the early regime of kings!
Drona is warned, open the door, you’ll meet death. He opens and voila out comes a ferocious and filthy looking monster. One punch from our absolutely unfit-for-a-superhero-role Abhishek, down goes the monster!
Jaya Bachchan (Drona’s mother) is mummified, yet tears trickle from her eyes!
If Love Story 2050 had the butterfly which magically assisted Harman Baweja to find a way when in trouble. Drona has a blue flower petal!
Mind you these are just a few of the numerous senseless scenes that Goldie and his Drona team treat us with. Can be forgiven in the name of Fantasy, but then there is hardly a connection between any two scenes.
The characters are poorly written. Kay Kay’s character is more clownish than devilish. The extent of his evil powers and its repercussions if he succeeds is not clear. Same goes with the main character of Drona. His strengths and power are not dealt with in detail which is so very important for a superhero flick.
For all Goldie Behl had to tell, he could have easily reduced the runtime to about 1 and a half hours instead of its actual 2 hours 15 mins runtime. Would have reduced the cost of making and the viewers pain. Though, thankfully it wasn’t longer.
Coming to the songs, which have no significance in the movie, are unbearable. The only thing that stands out in Drona is the brilliant special effects, which are way ahead of Bollywood standards.
Performances are poor. Abhishek Bachchan is no Hrithik Roshan or Akshay Kumar, although he tries hard in the action sequences, his body language or physique just doesn’t suit the role of a superhero with unprecedented physical power. His excess flab around the tummy area is quite clearly seen in the Drona costume. Priyanka Chopra is at her sexiest best! She oozes sensuality and performs the action scenes remarkably well.
Now the much hyped role of Kay Kay Menon, its such a dud. This has to be one of his worst roles ever. A great actor degraded by a stupid role. Jaya Bachchan has a very small role.
Overall, Drona could easily be placed a notch or two below some of the worst movies I have seen. Also, hardly have I witnessed an audience so restless during a movie. Goldie’s childhood promise to Abhishek could turn out to be his worst nightmare ever! At the box-office, Kidnap as a rival will severely make a dent in Drona’s collections. Weekend should be decent, but Monday onwards the fall could well be inevitable.
Positives : Special effects and Priyanka Chopra.Negatives : Almost everything else. Poor direction, bad story, below average performances.. to name a few.
Strictly avoid!

Telugu Movies: Souryam Telugu movie review

Film: SOWRYAM

Rating: 3/5

Banner: Bhavya Creations

Cast: Gopichand, Anushka, Poonam Kaur, Manoj K Jayan, Ajay, Ali, Dharmavarapu, Krishna Bhagawan, Raghu Babu, Sarath Babu, Tanikella, MS and others

Music: Mani Sharma

Cinematography: Vetri

Director: Siva

Producer: V Anand Prasad

Release Date: September 25, 2008

Story:

A commercial potboiler, the story begins with a major action sequence in Orissa where a bunch of bad guys are pummeled to pulp by a single man. He is none other than Vijay (Gopi) who is on his way to Kolkata and there is a group of bad guys who is desperately following his trail. Meanwhile, Vijay goes and joins in the college and his mission is to get close to Divya (Poonam) who is also a student there. He is on the lookout for accommodation and in this process he comes across Divya's friend Shweta (Anushka). She tries to rag him but ends up getting ragged and from then on she wants to give him a stick but the reverse happens. Soon, she realizes that she is in love with Vijay but then he is not too responsive to her feelings. Far away in Hyderabad, there is the cruel don Sivaram Goud (Manoj K Jayan) who along with his son (Ajay) is keen on seeing the end of both Divya and Vijay. So what exactly is the reason for his vengeance? Why does Vijay take special interest in Divya? Does he reciprocate the feelings of Shweta or not? All this forms the rest of the story.

Presentation:

The director has come out with a typical sentiment and action plot and though the narration was neat, the presentation lacked the maturity. The script was alright but then the screenplay was shoddily executed. Also, the editing was poor at some points, on the brighter side, the dialogues were good, pace was maintained almost throughout. Music was not upto the mark but the background score was alright, camera is good in many angles and captured the moments correctly. The other departments were alright in their contribution. Gopichand has surely improved as an actor and his dialogue delivery during certain intense scenes and his expressions really heat up the atmosphere. On the other hand, the screen is set on fire with the oomph of Anushka and her cute looks. She has gone down a lot but still her facial glow exists. Poonam Kaur looked okay and not that attractive. Manoj K Jayan was good with his role while Ajay did not have anything significant. Ali was a major attraction with his share of comedy and then there was Krishna Bhagawan and Raghu Babu who really brought out the best in laughter. The others did their bit with equal value and contributed to the movie.

Conclusion:

The plot has been mixed with loads of violence, shades of romance and good sentiment angle. However, while the first half was more on the lighter side with ample comedy, romance tracks and fight sequences it is the second half that takes a serious turn and is filled with sentiment, melodrama. There were few unwanted songs too which created a break in the rhythm of the movie. Commercially, it is upto the brim and has all the elements but the arrangement of the sequences was slight haphazard. But it will make its money without an issue since the mass appeal is high.

Welcome to Sajjanpur Hindi Movie review

Rating: ***1/2 star( 3and half star)
Cast :Shreyas Talpade, Amrita Rao, Divya Dutta, Yashpal Sharma, Rajeshwari Sachdeo, Ravi Kishan, Ila Arun

Mahadev is one of the few educated young men from Sajjanpur. His ambition is to be a novelist but finds it easier to make a living by writing letters sitting next to the post office. His ability to write persuasive letters makes him popular with the largely non-literate population of the town. Aware of this power, he soon uses his talent to manipulate people with amusing and sometimes not such amusing results. With this as the narrative frame, Welcome to Sajjanpur shows in an entertaining, musical and comic way, characters and events that are at once hilarious and poignant. A delightful satirical take on a contemporary Indian village.